7 ways to stay sane during covid-19
* written March 20, 2020
While the South African government has yet to impose a full quarantine, I’m seeing more and more places around the world going into lock down mode. We’ve never experienced anything quite like this before, especially on such a global scale, and there is a lot of uncertainty and fear circulating.
As a society that is so conditioned to be constantly doing, this is the first time we are being told to simply be. To stay put, right where we are, and wait this out.
This lack of distraction can be maddening for most people who thrive on external stimulation. We have been bred to thrive on external stimulation, so if you fall into this category, no judgement or berating, ok?
Rather than resisting these circumstances and creating even more unnecessary stress for yourself, use this as an opportunity. An opportunity to tend to yourself. An opportunity to clean your space, both external and internal. An opportunity to slow down and an opportunity to do some inner work.
Here are a few practices that you can use to stay SANE during this madness:
Take deep breaths: practice becoming conscious of your breath. Notice if your breath is shallow and short. If it is, place your hand on your belly and begin to deepen your breath. Slow it down to the count of 4, on the inhale and on the exhale. Deep breaths will help you keep calm and present.
Move your body: stagnation breeds disease, and being sedentary will only set an example for a sedentary mind. Move your body for at least 30 minutes every day. It can be as simple as stretching on your living room floor, or taking a walk. I have a ton of free practices available for you to use in my app, the How. Moving your body releases endorphins, those feel good chemicals that make us happy. Create your own happiness with a little bit of movement.
Go offline: there was a time before smartphones and computers, can you remember it? I think of my childhood, where I would create collages from magazine clippings and make up dance routines with my friends. We weren’t glued to a screen, we were using our bodies, our imagination. What activities can you do that don’t involve a screen? You could try a puzzle, a card game, or an arts and crafts project.
Journal: writing is such a healthy outlet to release our inner dialogue. At times my mind can be an overwhelming place, and my thoughts jumble, tripping over one another. I feel unclear, and unfocused. When I write freely, without attachment to writing something cohesive or that anyone else will see, I free my mind of the excess clutter that builds up. If something is bothering me, it is always worse in my mind. When I write about it, I have to focus on the words I use, and most of the time I realize that something was not as gigantic as my mind made it out to be. If I’m feeling overwhelmed with things I think I have to do, when I write it out, I always realize that I can actually accomplish the things I need to get done because I have clarity. Give yourself permission to free write. The more you practice, the more fluid it becomes.
Organize: look around at the space you occupy most. Is it messy and cluttered? Does the layout flow functionally? Is there too much stuff? What can you let go of. How can you reorganize your physical space, so that your mental space can feel more organized as well? Start with one drawer and work your way up. Don’t try to do everything at once, there is no rush. As Marie Kondo says, if something doesn’t spark joy, then it is time to let it go.
Meditate: this is the time to go inward. I was terrified of meditation before I started, scared of what I would have to face in my mind. With all of this fear, I understand the world feels like a scary and unsafe place. When you meditate, you create the circumstances for you to experience an incredible healing journey. Through meditation, I have overcome the trauma of my childhood, of painful relationships, and even of rape. This is a powerful practice when you dedicate yourself to it. And what we need right now is more people taking responsibility for their own healing. Meditation enhances your immune system and increases your life force energy. There are so many beautiful ways to meditate, and I invite you to make it a priority.
Practice gratitude: whenever I’m feeling down, practicing gratitude helps me remember how blessed I truly am, and how much goodness there is in the world. We can express gratitude for the ability to connect, around the world. Gratitude for our health. Gratitude for the doctors and nurses attending to the sick. Gratitude for the collective hope we have for thing to get better. Families are spending more time together, less planes are flying around the world. Luxury cruise ships are not dirtying the oceans. People are reaching out to their local communities. There is still so much to be grateful for, and the frequency of gratitude is high! So keep focusing on the good, over and over again.
I hope that we will use the current situation in the world to make ourselves even better versions of ourselves. Every moment of every day was an uncertainty, even before this virus. All we ever have is this moment, right here, right now.
Please share any practices you are using to stay sane in the comments below!
